how to reduce inflammation

 

Many people take stock of their physical health when we begin a new year.  And often resolve to take better care of themselves.  So here are some of the ideas I’ve considered when making my own self-improvement plans.

I don’t remember the exact source where I found these lists… Aha!  found it: the conscious life. 

 

   

To reduce or avoid inflammation, here are some of the recommended DOs and DON’Ts as far as diet.

 

DO eat:

1. kelp
2. turmeric, ginger root
3. wild salmon, flax seed, walnuts
4. shiitake mushrooms
5. green tea
6. papaya, pineapple
7. blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries
8. extra-virgin olive oil, avocados
9. broccoli, cauliflower
10. sweet potatoes, spinach

 

AVOID:

1. sugar
2. poly-unsaturated fats, hydrogenated fats
3. nightshade family – tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, bell peppers
4. grains
5. obvious junk “food”  ;-)

 

And there’s more of course, but I can’t bring myself to list milk and meat :-)  But if you know me well enough, you know I do prefer the non-GMO, unpasteurized, grass-fed good stuff!

Since adding some new supplements like EFAs {from Healthy for Life} and turmeric - and reducing grains especially – I think I’ve made progress in some of my own issues with inflammation.   I’m still far from a “trim healthy mama” but there’s hope!  And Dr. Weil even includes dark chocolate on his food pyramid :D

daybook 1/21/2014

 

Abby’s amaryllis last winter ~ it’s alive but not blooming this year.

 

For today, Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Outside my window... sunshine, a light dusting of yesterday’s snow, and FRIGID air. 

At 8:30am it was –7F with a ‘real feel’ of –19. 

Forecast high of +7F with less wind.

Hearing... girls were visiting with dogs in the garage – it’s quiet now except for a dehumidifier

Pondering... I haven’t introduce y’all to Liberty yet {so much to catch up on here!}

                           

The Cowgirl and the Popper requested a puppy for Christmas.  And Tim thought it was a good idea for Luci to have a young friend.  They do get along pretty well… now. :-)

Praying... much for Denise – radiation twice a day this week. 

for Kim & family and the financial paperwork and timing and  – for God to provide all that’s needed for moving Kim into a brain injury rehab center.

for Kate, Abby, Daniel in week 3 of this semester

for Daniel’s cyber forum friend Hubert in France who has agreed to read through the Gospel of John with Daniel

Thankful... for a great report on Kim’s 24-hour home visit this weekend – their dog’s enthusiastic welcome and constant care of Kim was a great encouragement.  Who says diamonds are a girl’s best friend?

Creating... waiting for the Mama to choose which flannel combo she likes, then sewing up a girly blanket for little Charlotte

    

Afternoon EDIT:  the Mama likes them all… SO, help me out, friends, please!  Which would YOU choose for lil’ Charlotte?

 

Last week’s blanket for a baby boy shower gift:  fun!

 

Going... to bundle up for a trip to the bank today!

Reading... Proverbs

Tim has been reading aloud from William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation.  The kids do a good job remembering who is who – “Don’t be a Lyford!”

Looking forward to... finding frames for yet another wall

 

In the kitchen...

the Cowgirl made our supper Friday night – and dessert – coffee mallow pie!

  

  

This week’s menu:  maid-rites, Madison Co. chicken, beef stew, burritos, pizza

Saturday night is the youth’s international missions meal – the Cowgirl has chosen Italian butter ball cookies {or something like that – they sound a lot like pecan sandies made with walnuts instead}  The Cattleman chose pierogis.

In the learning rooms... a study in the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth and more  for Bible class this semester.

Around the house...  we gave the Popper this picture of the calves in a barn board frame for their room – goes nicely with her sister’s Cowgirl sign

And the Cowgirl asked for a cubby shelf, so Tim made one for her!

     

It wasn’t much of a secret, but she didn’t seem to mind that.

The Mother Load... Once again I have conquered the ironing!  Hurrah!!!  However, much dirty laundry awaits…

Noticing that... facebook is consuming waaaay too much of my time again! :p

Something fun to share...

hand-written chalk art by Sarah

A favorite quote for today...

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

One of my favorite things...

Daniel’s lately-delivered birthday card from his siblings :D

 

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Tonight – caucus?

Wednesday – church

Thursday – piano, groceries, etc

Friday – Tim and at least a couple kids are attending workshops at Practical Farmers of Iowa conference

Saturday – youth international missions meal

Sunday – pizza with Pastor for the Popper and the Cattleman

A peek into my world... Here it is with the chalk art added

~.~.~.~.~

Giving credit where credit is due:

While I am not linking up with anyone, you could read more weekly news posts at other blogs by following any of these links:

• Peggy at the Simple Woman’s Daybook

• Julie for adapting this daybook version as her own ‘Grasshopper Days’ ~ Perhaps I could call it the GHV Daybook. :)

• You can also find a similar weekly meme in Happy Homemaker Monday at Sandra’s

~.~.~.~.~

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17

daybook 1/15/2014

 

Just do it.

When you do stuff, stuff gets done.

Ready, set, go!  I am jumping back into the blog with a mid-week daybook!

 

{Sunday’s sunrise}

For today, Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Outside my window... much of the snow has melted with the recent warmer weather and sunshine.  But winter is not over yet.  Hardly.

Today’s forecast from Accuweather:

Hi 30°   RealFeel® 13°   Precipitation 59%

Mostly cloudy and windy with a snow shower

{wind currently at 21mph with gusts of 32mph.  seems calm compared to 50mph gusts.}

But I rejoice too soon?  Here’s the “High Wind Watch” for tomorrow.  And yes, Thursday afternoon would be our scheduled piano lessons and grocery shopping.

WINDS WILL INCREASE ONCE AGAIN BY MID MORNING THURSDAY. THE STRONGEST WINDS SHOULD OCCUR DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

NORTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH THURSDAY...WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH POSSIBLE.

Hearing... the Popper was just singing a verse from the Messiah

Pondering... Will the bread dough rise faster than I can finish this post?

Praying...

• for Denise in her first week of chemo/radiation.  I wish I could do more.
• for Tim’s niece Kim {and family} as she continues to make good progress and might soon be moving on to yet another rehab facility.
• for Kate, Abby & Daniel, back in the thick of a new semester at college.

Thankful... for generous family members.  My brother was gracious to taxi Daniel and me to the airport since Tim was headed to Wisc with the girls at the same time.  Meanwhile my dad was shopping airfare for Daniel’s graduation and our return trip to Iowa in May.  Blessings abundant!

Creating... order of this mess:

Yes, it is often something equally exciting that keeps me from blog posts~ ha ha

Going... to shape the risen bread dough and start the next batch while the Cattleman does a bit of online research…

Reading... Proverbs again.  Always good. 

I am also working through the new “Christmas books” with a few bunny trails along the way.  Last week I re-read the first two books in the Men of Grit series by John Horn before beginning the third, so I could refresh my memory of the characters.  My kids still love the books, but I was less enthusiastic this time around – espec when I got into the third.  Oh well.  So, you’re curious what I’m talking about?  Conny, I’m sure Andrew would enjoy them – one reviewer compares them to Henty’s books.  :-)  Here’s a link, but they are currently out of print due to the apparent end of Vision Forum Publishing. {and a second link if you prefer to shop with a family-run, God-honoring small business}

Looking forward to... finishing with 2013 financial accounting.  Hopefully with a week or five off before I must face the tax returns!

In the kitchen... second batch of bread rising in the bowl while first batch is in the oven.   Leftovers are a popular menu item. 

January 1 – Brunch with local extended family: egg casserole, sweet roll twist, muffins.  {warmed up grilled turkey tenderloins for more extended family passing through in the afternoon} Pizza and lotsa munchies for supper with friends here.

2 – taco soup           3 – ?             4 – ?            5 – LO taco soup           6 – LO pizza

7 – LO roast beef           8 – turkey packets           9 – spaghetti           10 – turkey taquitos

11 – pizza           12 – taco rice casserole          13 – LO taco rice           14 – ham potato casserole

15- LO smorgasbord            16 – LO or broccoli soup                17 – pizza

Need I mention the leftover Christmas goodies we are still feasting on?!  cookies, chocolates, egg nog, …

In the learning rooms... someone just stubbed a toe?  “Ow, ow, ow!”  while the Popper laughs at the entertaining Mr. Howe {a beka academy dvd}.  Let’s see, what else?   the Cowgirl has read about the periodic table in Chem 101.  The Cattleman continues his research on William Bradford.  The Popper has had a couple chapters on astronomy in science – I’ve been eager for her to become friends with my favorite Orion!

Around the house... slowly but surely putting away “Christmas”

The Mother Load... I made myself a new list as the only things not scratched off on the old one were

• ironing {Does this surprise anyone?}
• accounting
• blanket for Charlotte

Noticing that... even the Popper is growing up on us!  She will be 12 in just a couple months!  How can that be?

Something fun to share... Kate’s project that kept us girls up until 2am the night before she and Abby had to return to school.  Especially fun was that I found a pretty stamp on an envelope from a family Kate met in Prague – perfect!  The stamp I chose for my necklace came from 1992 – from our wedding invitations! :-)

             

What took the most time was deciding what to use.  Do you want to know how to make one?

A favorite quote for today... {for Denise especially}

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

Psalm 61:1-4

 

One {several} of my favorite things...

Colorful new tools for our kitchen!  Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

A few plans for the rest of the week...

today – bake bread, sew flannel blankets?

tomorrow – piano, groceries, Hobby Lobby, library… 

tomorrow eve – meeting to plan shower for my nephew’s bride-to-be

soon – finish 2013 accounting

A peek into my world...

New collage wall has another item to add… as soon as I buy another frame!

~.~.~.~.~

Giving credit where credit is due:

While I am not linking up with anyone, you could read more weekly news posts at other blogs by following any of these links:

• Peggy at the Simple Woman’s Daybook

• Julie for adapting this daybook version as her own ‘Grasshopper Days’ ~ Perhaps I could call it the GHV Daybook. :)

• You can also find a similar weekly meme in Happy Homemaker Monday at Sandra’s

~.~.~.~.~

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17

spam I am

 

Laughter is good. And sometimes cyber spam is just too funny not to share with someone.  You are the lucky winner(s).  Here’s today’s email:

 

Subject:

Belmonte introduced a daring and revolutionary style, in which he stayed within a few inches of the bull throughout the fight.

Message:

Christian association and denomination in eastern Kentucky.

Despite this, they go straight to the attack.

Other sources of funding are event sponsorships, annual donations, wind power referral fees and interest income. He also has a slight potassium deficiency.

 

{emphasis added}

 

Now back to your regular program…

Or, for something to remove the aftertaste of this pretend meat, click here to read something both helpful and funny:

“Thoughts from a Potty Break”

swag bucks

 

 

• Ledger

Current 119

Lifetime 30,269

 

Date
Description
Amount

01/09/14
Rewards Store Purchase: $5 Amazon.com Gift Card
-450 SB

01/09/14
Other: Birthday Gift
50 SB

01/09/14
Bonus Swag Bucks: Toolbar Use
1 SB

 

When the rest of my Christmas online shopping bonuses kick in over the next several weeks, I should be able to order yet another gift card from Amazon.

Most swag bucks I’ve earned just by using their search engine.  I don’t do surveys, watch videos, or play games, etc.  And it’s been a long while since I’ve had a ‘swag code’ for extra bucks.  But the swag bucks still add up quickly!

Those 30 thousand plus swag bucks have given me 67 gift cards from Amazon ($5 each).  That’s $335 worth of stuff like books and coconut oil and an OXO lettuce spinner… and more.

 

So, have YOU signed up for swag bucks? 

Click the link waaaay at the bottom of my blog, and you can bless both of us with your first 1000 swag bucks!  Thanks! 

 

………………..

 

Keeping this truth in mind, as I just saw my ‘verse of the day’ ~

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” -Matthew 6:19-21

It is…

 

C>O>L>D>

 

from Accuweather at 10:30am…

Now: Sunny -13°
RealFeel® -46°

Today

Jan 6

Brisk and very cold Hi -11°
RealFeel -40°

 

Tonight

Jan 6

Mainly clear and very cold Lo -14°
RealFeel -40°

 

Tomorrow

Jan 7

Mostly sunny and very cold Hi 10°
RealFeel 9°

 

………………………………..

It’s almost funny.  A week ago or so –before I heard the state meteorologist explaining about the unusual direction of the jet stream—we had some kiddos here for the day.  They went outside to visit the pets and go sledding.  When Tim was talking with Josefine at supper, he asked her about her walk out to the pasture.  “We went all the way to the North Pole!”

Well, Josefine, I’m thinking the North Pole has come to us here lately!  :o

And waiting until manana to make a needed trip to the post office seems like a really good idea.

updates on Kim

 

Thank you for praying with us for Kim and her family…

 

Day 44, January 2, 2014

Posted 25 minutes ago

Kim's jaw wiring is now off. It was an absolutely excruciatingly painful procedure. She was told it was a bed-side procedure and would be just like getting braces off her teeth. When the jaw-wiring was done on December 4, the screws that hold the wires together were inserted into the bone structure above and below her teeth. 8 to 10 screws were used. Some of these screws and even the wire were now grown over and completely covered by gum tissue. The screws that were visible didn't cause too much pain. After half an hour of working at the screws, we convinced the doctor to use something to numb her mouth, but it still took 2 of us to hold her down while he probed for the screws. He eventually had to cut some of the tissue to get at the screws and wire. Afterward he said he has never seen a situation where the tissue had grown over so many of the screws.

She is being monitored for pneumonia once again. A chest x-ray and mucous culture were taken - results won't come back for several days.

She has also lost about 10 pounds - she was pretty petite before the accident, so she doesn't have spare pounds to lose.

A heart-wrenching day as a parent. We are reminded she will continue to take some steps backwards as she moves forward.

----------------

6 Weeks, January 1, 2014

Posted 2 days ago

Therapy sessions are progressing, though she has a break for today.

Occupational therapy has worked on having Kim do her own laundry - using the washer and dryer, then folding and putting away her clothes. She is very happy that she can now wear her own clothes!

Physical therapy continues work on her walking, balance, and strength. She has especially enjoyed the visits from the 2 therapy dogs who have visited her - "Zombie" and "Samantha".

Speech therapy works on concentration and memory - generally using games. Her long-term memory is much better than her short-term memory. She wanted to write a story and remembered to use quotation marks around a quote. Her attention span is quite short so her "story" had only 2 or 3 sentences. One of her rehab doctors explained that short-term memory takes much longer than long-term memory to "wake up" after brain trauma.

Doctors are trying a different approach to her agitation and pain. It seems to be helping as she isn't crying as much. We are also trying to distract and re-direct her when she fixates on one thing - more walking seems to help some.

Insurance approved a visit from an opthalmologist - she was assessed on Monday. The doctor did not see any blood clots in either eye. Kim could see some letters on an eye chart - each eye separately. The left eye continues to not open, and when manually opened, does not move to commands. This is due to damage to the nerve that controls up, down, left & right movements, pupil dilation, and lid opening. She has some eye damage that may require surgery, though there is nothing that can be addressed at this time. Eye and nerve injuries take a long time to heal.

Plans are to take off the jaw wiring on Thursday (1/2)- a big step in her recovery. This is a bed-side procedure. An Ear/Nose/Throat doctor from UW hospitals will come to Meriter to do the procedure. Her trach can be removed when she can tolerate it being capped for 3 days.

Thank you for all your prayers for Kim.